Valve stem grinding and fitting device



Jam M. HOLHUT ET AL 2,104,345

VALVE S'I EM GRINDING AND FITTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 16, 1936' 2Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

Jan. 4, 1938. M. HOLHUT ET AL 2,104,345

' VALVE STEM GRINDING AND FITTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 16, 1936 2Sheets-Sheet 2 1 4" q a, T i 14 '8 INVENTORS W/c/aae/ fla/hur.

ATTORN Patented Jan. 4, 1938 Michael l lolhut and Walter G. Vollmer, St.Louis,

Mo., assignors to H & H Machine 8; Motor Parts (30., St. Louis, Mo., acorporation of Missouri Application September 16, 1936, Serial No.101,005

7 Glaims.

This invention relates generally to valve-stem grinding and fittingdevices and, more particularly, to a certain new and useful improvementin devices especially adapted for gauging and grinding thetappet-engaging ends-of automobile valve-stems.

Our invention has for its primary object the provision of a device ofthe type stated so constructed for accurately gauging the length ofautomotive and other types of valve-stems and grinding the stemsprecisely to the desired length.

Our invention has for a further object the provision of a device of thetype stated in which the desired valve-stem length may be preciselygauged and set directly upon the jig or fixture for valve-stem grinding,

Our invention has for another object the provision of a device of thekind and for the purpose stated, which is of simple structuradurable andemcient in operation, and rapid and conv venient in manipulation.

And with the above and other objects in view, our invention resides inthe novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combinationof parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets) Figure l. is a frontelevational view of a valvestem gauge and grinder constructed inaccord-. ance with our present invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the structure;

Figure 3 is a schematic sectional'view of the jig for gauging andholding the valve-stem for grinding operation, thejig being shown inposition for stem gauging and setting relatively to the automotivevalve-seat and tappet assembly;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the pilot gauge forming part ofthe present structure;

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the jig shown in figure 3;

Figure 6 is a ltragmentary sectional view of the jig shown in Figures 3and 5, taken approximately on the line 0-t, Figure 5;

Figure l is a fragmentary sectional view of the movable fixture of thevalve-stem grinder, taken approximately along the line l'--l, Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the movable fixture shown inFigure '7, taken approximately on the line t-8, Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary end 'elevational view of the movable fixtureshown in Figure 7, showingin particular a detail of the jig holding,memher of the fixture; and

Figure 10 is a partially broken perspective view of the jig shown inFigures 3 and 5, showing a valve-Stem in operative position therein.-

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to thedrawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of our presentinvention, the valve-stem grinder comprises a motor driven grinder wheelassembly A, a movable fixture B, and a valve-stem holding and gaugingjig C for embracingly supporting an automotive cylinder valve D.

. The grinder wheel assembly A includes preferably an electric motor orother prime mover I mounted rigidly on a base 2 and operably connectedthrough a manually or otherwise actuated switch 3 and a flexibleelectric conduit 4 in a conventional manner to a suitable source ofpower, not shown, the motor-shaft 5 being equipped at one projecting endwith a face grinder or abrading wheel 6' and at its opposite projectingend with a second grinder or abrading wheel, wire brush, bufling wheel,or suitable or analogous member l.

Preferably integrally formed on the base 2, is a pair of suitably spacedupstanding bosses or standards 8 transversely apertured in registrationfor, and to which by set-screws 9 is secured, a shaft l0 disposedaccurately in a line parallel to the axial line of the motor-shaft 5.

Shiftably mounted on shaft E0 in a manner and for a purpose presentlydescribed, is the movable fixture B, which comprises an upwardlypresented body-section ll formed preferably integrally at its lowerextremity with a longitudinally extending bottom-shell or housing l2 andat its upper extremity with a jig-holder l3, which latter, in turn, isformed with a first jig-engaging shoulder it provided in its upper facewith an upwardly presented preferably serrated V- shaped recess, as atM, a circularly recessed second jig-supporting shoulder l5 likewise provided in its upper face with an upwardly presented annular recess, as atIt, and intermediate the shoulders id, it, with an upstandingjigpositioning tongue 06, all as best seen in Figures 1 and T, theshoulders Hi, 85, being aligned perpendicularly to the true cuttingplane of the face grinding wheel 6.

Forming part of, and disposed within, the shell or housing 92, is a pairof downwardly presented bosses ll, ll, having axially registeringopenings 58 for rotatably and shiftably engaging the shaft it, thehousing 52 in its forward end-wall l9 being provided with an opening 20axially aligned with the openings I8 for freely and looselyaccommodating the housing for shiftable movement on the forwardlyextended end-portion of the shaft l0. Formed in the opposite end wall 2|of housing l2 and also axially aligned with the openings I8, 20, and theshaft I0, is an internally threaded aperture 22 for adjustably receivinga fixture positioning-screw 23 abuttingly engageable at its innerextremity with the rear end of the shaft l0 and having at its outerextremity a knurled actuating-knob 24, a lock-nut 25 being preferablydisposed about the screw 23 between the knob 24 and an outwardly facingshoulder 26 of the housing end-wall 2| for releasably retaining thescrew 23 in adjusted position.

Suitably fixed on the shaft l0 within the housing I2 and positionedintermediate the standards H, H, is a collar 21, a helical spring 28being coiled about and along the shaft II) for impinging at its oppositeends against the standard l1 and collar 21, as also best seen in Figure7.

Preferably integrally formed on, and disposed centrally of, the oppositelower margins of the base shell or housing I2, are outwardly presentedears 29, 30, for engaging shoulders 3|, 32, respectively, upstandingfrom the base 2, as best seen in Figures 1 and 8, for limiting therotative movement of the fixture B about the shaft l0.

Thus, it will be evident that the movable fixture B may be oscillatedpast the grinder wheel 6 in a plane parallel to a side face thereof from'a position P to a position P", as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2,and may also be yieldingly shifted longitudinally upon and relatively tothe fixed shaft ||l upon actuation of the positioningscrew 23, all forpurposes presently more particularly appearing.

The valve-stem holding jig C comprises an outer, longitudinally splitsleeve 33, which includes a valve-seating portion 34 and a stemholdingportion 35 substantially diametrically reduced relatively to, and by anintermediate frustro-conical valve-seat engaging portion 36 joined to,the valve-seating portion 34, which latter is provided at its outer endwith a precisely machined frustro-conical seating face 34' forengagement with the seating face of an automotive cylinder valve D, asbest seen in Figure 10.

Longitudinally disposed in the sleeve-portion 34 and opening at an endto the seat 34, is a pair of preferably diametrically opposite pockets31, retained in which by dog-pointed screws 38 are compression-springs39. Precisely fitting for longitudinal slidable movement within thesleeve 33, is a split-tube 40 provided-adjacent its one or so-calledupper end with a pair of diametrically opposed pins 4| projectingradially outwardly into the pockets 31 through slots 42 for impingingengagement with the respective inner ends of the springs 39 for normallyurging the tube 40 inwardly or downwardly within the sleeve 34, the tube40 being also provided at its lower end with an inwardly presentedvalve-stem positioning and supporting shoulder 43.

Extending radially through the wall of the sleeve-portion 35, is anenlarged slot or opening 44 juxtaposed to a recess 45 extending radiallyinwardly from the outer peripheral face of the tube 40 and dimensionedaccurately to fit tongue IS, the slot or opening 44 being of such sizethat the recess 45 will always be accessible to the tongue |5 regardlessof the relative shifting of the tube 40 within the sleeve 33, as bestseen in Figure 3.

Similarly extending radially through the side wall of the sleeve portion34, is an internally threaded opening 46, disposed in which is amanually operable set-screw 41 lockingly engageable with the tube 40 fora purpose presently de scribed.

Co-operable with the jig C for gauging and setting the valve-stem lengthin a manner presently set forth, is a gauge-rod 5| preferably of greaterlength than the distance from the face 34' to the engine tappet 52, asshown in Figure 3, the rod 5| being provided at its one extremity with aknurled knob 53 for facilitating manipulation and at its other extremitywith a precisely machined tappet contacting foot 54. Preferablyintegrally and co-axially formed along the rod 5| at a preciselydetermined point for edgewise abutment with an end face 55 of theshoulder 43, as will be presently explained, is an enlarged cylindricalportion 56 accurately diametrically sized to fit snugly within theforward end of the tube 40 for positioning the gauge rod 5| axiallywithin the jig C, as shown in Figure 3.

Also co-operable with the jig C for conjointly setting the jig C and thefixture B with respect to the grinder wheel 6, is a cylindricalpilotgauge 51, best seen in Figure 4, precisely machined in all itsdimensions and faces to fit abuttingly against the face 55 of theshoulder 43 coaxially within the tube 40 of the jig C, the length of thegauge 51, as designated by the distance my in Figures 3 and 4, beingexactly equal to the difference between the distance ac on the gauge rod5| and the distance bd on the sleeve 33.

In setting the jig C for a valve grinding operation, the screw 41 isfirst loosened, so that the tube 40 and the sleeve 33 are free to sliderelatively to each other, whereupon the springs 39, in their engagementwith the pins 4|, will yieldingly shift the tube 40 longitudinallydownwardly relatively to the sleeve 33, so that the tube-shoulder 43 isat the maximum axial distance from the valve-seat engaging face 34' onthe sleeve 33. The gauge-rod 5| is then through the split 33' insertedco-axially in the jig C, so that the edge face of the portion 56 is inengagement with shoulder-face 55, whereupon the jig C is placed in aselected valve opening of the internal combustion engine being assembledor repaired and the tappet-engaging foot 54 set firmly against the faceof the tappet 52, as best seen in Figure 3.

When the distance from shoulder 43 to the valve-seat engaging face 36,designated as the distance cb, is greatest, the valve-seat engaging face36 will stand away from the valve-seat of the engine; thus the sleeve 33must be manually urged downwardly-relatively to the tube 40 which is nowheld in a fixed position relatively to the tappet 52 by means of thegauge-rod 5|, the face 36 being thereby brought into tight, seatedcontact with the valve-seat of the engine, whereupon the screw 41 istightened down against the tube 40, locking the tube 40 and sleeve 33together in fixed relative position.

i In such manner, a fixed setting of the distance cb is obtained on thejig in correspondence with the distance ab, which represents the truedistance from the tappet-face to the valve-seat and likewise representsthe precise length to which the valve-stem must be ground.

The jig C is then removed from the engine, the gauge-rod 5| alsoremoved, and the pilotgauge 51 inserted. As previously stated, thelength xy of the pilot-gauge 51 is exactly equivalent to the differencebetween the distances ac and bd. Hence, it will be evident that thedistance dz: is exactly equivalent to the distance ab.

The movable fixture B is oscillated in aicounterclockwise directionabout the shaft III to the position indicated at P in Figure 2., The jigC, with the pilot-gauge 51 in position, is then placed in thejig-engaging shoulders ll, ii, of the fixture B, so that the-tongue I8thereof will fit into the recess 45 of the jig. The lock-nut 25 of thefixture B is loosened and the screw 23 rotated in the proper direction,thereby translating the fixture B longitudinally along the shaft l0either toward or away from the face of the grinding wheel 6, as the casemay be, until the end face 58 of the pilot-gauge 51 is approximately inthe plane of the face of the grinder'wheel 6. The fixture B is thenpivoted about the shaft in in a clockwise direction until the entire jigC is in front of the face of the grinder wheel 6, as shown at P inFigure 2, whereupon the screw 23 of the fixture B is carefully turned tobring the end face 58 of the pilot-gauge 51 into accurate abutment withthe face of the grinder wheel 6, the lock-nut 25 being then tighteneddown on the locking shoulder 26 and the fixture 3 thus set tin thedesired position, it being obvious that the distance from the face 34'of the jig C to the face of the grinder wheel 6 will exactly equal thetrue length to which the valve-stem D must be ground in order to snuglyfit the selected valv chamber;

With the fixture B and Jig C thus positioned, the jig C is lifted out ofthe fixture, the pilotgauge 5? removed, and the valve D inserted andmanually held in such manner that the seating face of the valve istightly pressed against the face 3% of the sleeve 33 and the stem iscoaxially held within the tube ill upon the shoulder 43. The jig C, thuscarrying the valve D, is placed in the fixture B, as above described,the

recess 35 of the jig C being brought into positioning engagement withthe tongue it of the fixture B. The grinder wheel 5 is set into motionand the entire jig-fixture assembly rotated back and forth around theshaft it], thus bringing the tappet-engaging foot 5d of the valve-stem Dinto grinding contact with the grinder wheel 6 until the foot of thevalve-stem will just clear the face of the grinder wheel 8. The valvethen will have been ground precisely and accurately to the desiredlength and may be removed from the jig for installation and assemblyinto the engine.

By our present invention, we thus provide an emcient device or structurein which valve-stems may be more economically, more speedily, and moreaccurately ground than has heretofore been possible, so far as we areaware, since the valveholding jig C is set directly from the valvechamber to be accommodated, thus avoiding the timewasting anderror-producing operations of calipering the valve chamber andtransferring the caliper measurement to avalve-stem holder. il-hestructure is relatively simple in structure, may be inexpensivelyconstructed, the number of machined interfitting parts being materiallyreduced, with a consequent reduction in the costs of, and the number ofpossibilities for error in, machining, is durable and convenient inoperative manipulation, and is efficient in the performance ofitsintehded functions.

It will be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of thedevice or structure may be made and substituted for those herein shownand described without departing from the nature and principle of ourpresent invention.

Having thus described our invention, whatwe claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:--

'1. In a valve-stem grinding andfitting device, in combination, avalve-stem holding jig comprising a sleeve, 9, tube longitudinallyshiftable within the sleeve, the sleeve and tube being arrangedco-operatively for receiving a valvestem and the sleeve having valve andvalve-seat engaging faces, and means for securing the sleeve adiustablyto the tube.

' 2. In a valve-stem grinding and fittingdevice,

in combination, a valve-stem holding jig comprising a sleeve, a tubelongitudinally shiftable within the sleeve, the sleeve and tube beingarranged cooperatively for receiving a valve-stem and the sleeve havingvalve and valve-seat engaging faces,

a valve-stem supporting shoulder in the 'tube, and means for releasablylocking the sleeve to the tube.

3. In a valve-stem grinding and fitting device, in combination, avalve-stem holding jig comprising a sleeve, a tube longitudinallyshiftable within the sleeve, the sleeve and tube being arrangedco-operatively for receiving a valve-stem and the sleeve having a valveand valve-seat engaging faces, resilientmeans operatively disposed inthe sleeve engageable with the tube for normally urging the tubelongitudinally in a predetermined direction within the sleeve, and meansfor releasably locking the sleeve to the tube.

4. In a valve-stem grinding and fitting device, in combination, a base,a face abrasive disc mounted for rotation on the base, a unitary frameswingably mounted on said base for movement in a plane parallel to theface abrasive disc, said frame having integrally formed forward andrearward aligned jig-supporting yokes, and an integrally formedupstanding reference shoulder positioned intermediate of, and inalignment with, said yokes, and a removable valve-stem holding jigoperatively mountable in said yokes and having a transverse referenceslot precisely engageable with the reference shoulder for positioningthe jig longitudinally with respect to the frame for supporting avalve-stem for endwise engagement with the face of the abrasive disc.

5. In a valve-stem grinding and fitting device, in combination, avalve-stem holding jig comprising a sleeve, a tube longitudinally shiftable within the sleeve, the sleeve and tube being arrangedco-operatively for receiving a valve-stem and the sleeve having valveand valve-seat engaging faces, a pair of diametrically opposedlongitudinally extending recesses formed in the sleeve, a pair ofdiametrically opposed radially outwardly extending pins rigidlymounted-in the tube for shiftable disposition within the sleeverecesses, and spring means disposed in each of the recesses inengagement with the pin for normally urging the tube toward apredetermined position with respect to the sleeve.

6. In a valve-stem grinding and fitting device, in combination, avalve-stem holding jig comprising a sleeve, a tube longitudinallyshiftable within the sleeve, the sleeve and tube being arrangedco-operatively for receiving a valve-stem and the sleeve having valveand valve-seat engaging faces, a pair of diametrically opposedlongitudinally extending recesses formed in the sleeve, a pair ofdiametrically opposed radially outwardly extending pins rigidly mountedin the tube for shiftable disposition within the sleeve recesses, springmeans disposed in each of the recesses in engagement with the pin fornormally urging the tube toward a predetermined position with respect tothe sleeve, and means threadedly disposed in each of the sleeve recessesengageable with the spring means for adjustably varying the tensionthereof.

7. In a valve-stem grinding and fitting device, in combination, a base,a face abrasive disc mounted for rotation on the base, a pair ofupstanding bosses formed on the base and aligned at right angles to theface abrasive disc, a shaft mounted rigidly in and extending longiframealong the shaft to any predetermined posi- 10 tion of adjustment.

MICHAEL HOLHUT. WALTER G. VOLIMER.

